Improvement in combined screw-driver and band for fire-arms



B. B. HOTCHKISS;

COMBINED SCREW-DRIVERAND BAND FOR FIRE-ARMS.

.No.185,566. Patented Jan,.23, 1877.

NIE

BENJAMIN B. HOTGHKISS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 186,566, dated January 23, 1877; application filed December 7, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, B. B. HOTGHKISS, of New York city, temporarily residing in Paris, France, have invented certain Improvements relatingto Fire-Arms, of which the following is a specification The invention relates to means for taking apart and putting together several pieces composing the lock and the entire arm.

Under the exigencies of military service, hunting, 860., it becomes frequently desirable to examine or exchange a part without proper tools. I make one of the ordinary useful parts of the fire-arm detachable by means ofa springcatch pressed on by the thumb, or analogous means requiring no tool, and provide this part with an edge adapted to serve as a screwdriver, to operate all the screws which confine the other parts.

The accompanying drawings represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure l is a side viewof a portion of the fire-arm, showing the band in position to fulfill its regular duty. Fig. 2 is a bottom view.

of the same parts. Fig. 3 shows my hand detached in the act of being used as a screwdriver.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

The figures represent the parts involving the novelty. The remaining parts may be of the ordinary construction.

A is the stock; B, the barrel. L is one of the bands which hold the stock and barreltogether, and a is a spring capable of being mounted in the stock, and adapted to be de place, except when it is desired to remove it to be used as a screw-driver. The part I of the band L is made to project, and is formed with a screw-driver edge, 1, adapted to match in the score across the head of the gun-screw. The band being detached from the gun, the edge Z is engaged in the score of any screw which it is desired to liberate or to tighten, and the device is easily operated.

I prefer that the band L shall be the second from the muzzle. If the one near the muzzle is too large to allow it to he slipped off over it, means must be provided for also detaching the band nearest the muzzle. For liberating any other part, the screw-driver L l 1 may be available. Other detachable parts than the second hand may be thus equipped with the screwdriver-eminently, the bayonet; but, whatever the part may be, it is desirable that it should be held by a locking-spring, a, or by other means which do not require a screwdriver to operate.

I claim as my improvement in fire-arms- The detachable part L H, constructed and adapted to serve as a screw-driver, substantially as for the purposes herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of November, 1876, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

B. B. HOTUHKISS. Witnesses:

A. HENRY GENTNER, CHARLES C. SrErsoN. 

